Released by the Swedish Expressen Newspaper and Sony Music Sweden is volume four in the "100% Elvis" series entitled "Country".

The CD "Elvis Presley: 50 Australian Top Ten Hits 1956-1977" drops to #20 in its third week on the Australian albums chart. The album will be re-promoted approaching and during August and in the run up to Christmas.

On the ARIA Music DVD Chart the Elvis The King Of Rock 'N' Roll is #25 (from #21) this week with a total of 90 weeks on the chart and a peak of #4 and is 2 x Platinum. The single disc version of the '68 Comeback Special dropped off the chart.

Harold Bradley Receives Grammy Award

Harold Bradley, former studio side-man of Elvis Presley and one of the most recorded guitar players in history, received an Trustees Award, in the special merit catagory of the Grammy Academy. Harold Bradley recorded with Elvis from 1962 to 1967 on albums like "His Hand In Mine", "Pot Luck" and soundtracks like ''Kissin' Cousins," "Clambake," "Stay Away Joe" and "Spinout". Harold has been a Nashville session musician for over 50 years.

On working with Elvis Presley he said: "He was such a nice guy to work with. He was a quick study. He'd go over and play the demo acetate and listen to a bunch of them. When he finally found one he liked, by the time he walked from there back over to the mike, it seemed like he knew the song."

Due to a mixture of snow and ice that coated the Memphis area Friday, tours at Elvis Presley's Graceland on Saturday, January 30th, have been cancelled.

Elvis Presley's favorite roller coaster the Zippin' Pippin is coming down. Yesterday, a demolition crew began to tear down the classic 1923 out and back woodie. Efforts to save and relocate the roller coaster from the closed Libertyland amusement park failed.

The city is spending $2 million to demolish the remains of Libertyland and the fairground property, so they can proceed with plans to redevelop the Mid-South Fairgrounds property. In November the city hired an expert to see if the roller coaster was salvageable. After a section of the ride was tore out, it was estimated that it would cost millions to restore or rebuild it. Zippin' Pippin has been sitting unused, exposed to the elements, since Libertyland shut its doors forever in October 2005.

The former owner of the RCA Studios in Hollywood is selling the white grand piano that was used in the studios during the seventies. Elvis played on this piano and it was used during the recording sessions of songs as "Fairytale", "Green, Green Grass of Home", "I Can Help", "And I Love You So", "Susan When She Tried", "T-R-O-U-B-L-E", "Tiger Man", "Woman Without Love", "Shake a Hand", "Bringin' it Back", "Pieces of My Life". The piano can be bought with the 'buy it now' option for $550,000 (€392.000) with free shipping.

Sony released the soundtracks of the movies G.I Blues, Viva Las Vegas, Roustabout, Girls! Girls! Girls!, Frankie And Johnny, Girl Happy, Clambake and Fun In Acapulco in their Sony Special Product series.

The double CD set "75th Birthday Celebration" was released on the Jasmine label (temporary cover art).

Joe Tunzi announced yet another 2010 book-release; according to the news-update it actually is "The Book Event Of The Year" as J.A.T. celebrates the King's 75th Anniversary with the release of "Viva Las Vegas!" A hardback book featuring unreleased world premiere photographs in stunning color and beautiful black and white. Relive the glory and excitement of Elvis and Ann-Margret on the set and on the town! Swinging, singing action shots and exciting up-close and personal candids. The definitive "Viva Las Vegas" book! "

The "Elvis 75" 3 CD set is a new entry at #1 on Cashbox's Top Rock Album charts for the week starting january 25, 2010. On the Top Populair albums this title climbs from #19 to #17 while the "Elvis Memories" 3 CD set is a new entry at #16 on the Top Rock Albums chart. "Elvis 75" drops from #1 to #20 in it's second week on that chart.

Sony Strategic Marketing released volume 2 in the "Greatest Hits" Tin Can series.

The Memphis Recording Service announced the its first standalone book "A Minnesota Moment" as a limited edition only release. The 9 x 11 inch hardback book contains 100 pages in full color gloss print, featuring the photographic works of Tim Healy in Minneapolis, Minnesota at the Elvis Presley show on October 17, 1976. This book will only be limited to 1500 copies worldwide and will be released on 15th February. The book matches the Follow That Dream collector's label CD releases with the same title.

As the Minneapolis Tribune reported at the time, “Elvis is in as good shape as ever and, of course, as a performer on stage, singing or just fooling around, he has more charisma than a dozen other top performers combined. Will Elvis endure? Judging by the screams of the audience he's in no trouble.”

With Elvis slimmed down and performing better than earlier in the year, Tim Healy’s exclusive photographs manage to visually capture Elvis’ new-found enthusiasm effortlessly and in an uncannily realistic way.

A new import CD entitled "Live At The Showroom Internationale" featuring the February 23rd, 1971 Dinner Show was released. This concert was previously released on the 2009 "Elvis Internationale" double CD set (disc 2) from the International import label.

The T2 (Alive) budget label re-issued the "V" Best Of five disc compilation and "Elvis - An American Icon" 1 DVD/ 2 CD set in Germany.

In Brazil Elvis' image was used promote the English school lessons from Lexical.

The book "Elvis Presley's Gold Cadillac Tour of Australasia 1968-69" was released. The 58 pages book is a comprehensive account of the tour of Elvis's Gold Cadillac "downunder" by Peter R. Hayden.

Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley's 1994 marriage certificate has sold for $70,800 at auction. The document, which boasts both stars' signatures, was issued to the couple following a 15-minute ceremony on 26 May (94) in the Dominican Republic.
It went under the hammer on Saturday with an opening price of $27,000 and quickly sparked a bidding war as two collectors vied for the item, racking up 20 offers between them.

Pick Of The Day

Discussion at MOJO Magazine (U.K.) HQ recently turned to the vast, labyrinthine world of Elvis releases. It's been 33 years since Mr Hips left the building for the very last time and yet his songs are still re-ordered, re-packaged and re-issued several times a year. So, how do you buy Elvis Presley? Greatest Hits/Best Ofs... are all very well, but, as a MOJO reader, you know there's nothing better than going straight to the source.

Not only is Elvis Country his most consistent album of the 1970s, it's also a record that taps into every facet of a man who, after 15 years of superstardom, was still desperate to find satisfying material to record.

Read any account of Elvis in the studio, and you'll be presented with a man who just loved to sing the southern spirituals that coloured his childhood. From his early days at Sun, the songs he sang with his mother and father equipped him with the feel and the atmosphere he needed to tackle the session ahead.

On this album, Willie Nelson's Funny How Time Slips Away, Ray Price's Make The World Go Away and Stonewall Jackson's I Washed My Hands In Muddy Water are driven by vocals that come straight from that lagoon of spiritual solace that, by the turn of the '60s, Elvis was finding it harder to tap into. He'd already re-captured an impassioned authority on 1969's From Elvis In Memphis, but Elvis Country is a better record because we hear a soul torn between the glory and the darkness: on one side, the lean, 'aw-shucks' rock 'n' roll rebel; on the other, the pale, lethargic schlub of the Las Vegas lounges. What's amazing is Elvis seems aware of this. In fact, he thrives on it.

In a warehouse on Half Moon Bay south of San Francisco the red Elvis BMW 507 (VIN: 70,079) is found in state 5-minus, the owner is Jack Castor. Thomas Wirth has found the BMW 50. The full story can be read the current edition of Auto Bild Klassik 1 / 2010. According to a post on ElvisNews.com though, the car met a fate that a lot of cars of that era share. No one took care of it and it is still in a very sad shape.

Elvis Presley's "Memories" album re-enters the chart at #57 for the week ending Jan 30, 2010. Three other titles on the chart:

The January 21st. issue of the Record Collector magazine features an article entitled, "Elvis Secrets Of The King's Jukebox!" on Elvis' personal collection of records and the types of music and artists Elvis listened to. Readers will also get the exclusive chance to win one of Elvis' personal jukebox singles.

Elvis' classic album "Elvis Is Back" will be re-issued through Analogue Productions as a double 180gr. vinyl album at 45 RPM for the best sound. The tracks were remastered by Steve Hoffman and Kevin Grayden using the original master tapes according to the press-release.

The King Of Rock And Roll - 75th Anniversary Edition

One Media Publishing published a 4 DVD box entitled "The King Of Rock And Roll - 75th Anniversary Edition" containing the documentaries "The Early Years / In Germany / The Return Of A Star / The Final Years".

The CD "Elvis 75" is a new entry - straight in at #1 - on Cashbox Magazines' Top Rock Albums chart. In the U.K. the "Elvis 75" compilation drops to #16 in it's second week on the Album Chart (actually the 3rd week since it came from no 138 before it entered the Top 10 last week). "ELV1S 30 #1 Hits" drops from #135 to #182.

The Audionics import label announced the release of the double CD set "Springtime Tours '76 - '77" containing a previously unreleased stereo soundboard recording of the Johnson City, TN, March 17th, 1976 show, the original binaural version of Charlotte, NC, March 20th, 1976 evening performance and selection of stereo tracks recorded "on the road" from March to May, 1977.

From the press-release:
This new Audionics production will be presented in double digipack with a 16-page booklet. All accompanying photographs were taken on March 17-18, 1976, in Johnson City, TN, March 20, 1976 in Charlotte, NC, evening show and on tour in March - May, 1977. This 2-CD set is expected at the end of January.

Unfortunately both the March 17th and March 20th, 1976, 8:30 p.m. concerts were not captured in entirety. These tapes were recorded in binaural with the lead-guitar almost isolated in the right channel, probably due to an expected change of lead guitar-player. The March 17th, 1976 recording was mixed down to stereo and two songs were added in original binaural sound as a bonus. The March 20th, 1976 8:30 p.m. show (previously released as "RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT") is presented in excellent quality in its genuine binaural form. These shows are fascinating to listen to, as Elvis’ band sounds totally different thanks to the new additions Larry Londin on drums and Shane Keister on keyboards, breathing new life into Elvis’ repertoire at the time. All 1977 tracks are stereo recordings made by Felton Jarvis, using an 8-track tape recorder.

Among the Johnson City concert highlights are a rare "Until It's Time For You To Go", the first live rendition of "Hurt" and a tremendous "Tryin' To Get To You". Unreleased 1977 highlights: "My Way" from Chicago, May 2, "That's All Right" from Abilene, March 27th, and finally another "My Way" - again from Abilene - including a beautifully recited spoken part! This is a truly sensational version, and the spoken part will no doubt give you goosebumps. A remarkable find, and certainly one of the most interesting discoveries in recent years! Note: some previously released 1977 tracks are included, because they are taken from the original source and containing bits of unheard dialogues before & after each song.

Released by the Swedish Expressen Newspaper and Sony Music Sweden is volume two in the "100% Elvis" series entitled "R&B".

The CD "Elvis Presley: 50 Australian Top Ten Hits 1956-1977" debuted within the Top Ten on the Australian albums chart - at #9 this week. Elvis Presley's last Australian Top 10 debut album was '2nd to None' which debuted and peaked at #4 on October 13, 2003, although his last Top Ten album was 'The King' which peaked at #4 on August 20, 2007 after a debut at #22 the previous week.

More charts from around the globe: Global Chart Update - Week 02, 2010

Joe Tunzi's JAT Publishing announced another 2010 book project "Elvis Encore Perfornmance 4 - Back In The Windy City". The hardcover book - due for release May 1, 2010 - covers eight performances by Elvis in The Windy City in 200 photographs (color and black and white, 150 being unpublished).

The hardcover 176 pages book "Elvis Presley in the Movies" by moviecritic Timothy Knight was released January 15, 2010.

To the world he was the King of Rock and Roll, but Elvis Presley was also one of the top-10 movie stars of his era. Thirty-one of his films are included in this retrospective by film critic Timothy Knight. The pages that follow speak volumes about why the Tupelo, Mississippi native was the most acclaimed rock star who ever went to Hollywood. It also includes an entertaining DVD documentary by filmmaker Les Krantz. In it, you’ll enjoy more than 50 of the King’s most entertaining scenes in his best films like Blue Hawaii, Change of Habit, Charro!, Flaming Star, Follow that Dream, G.I. Blues, Jailhouse Rock, Kid Galahad, King Creole, Love Me Tender, Loving You and Viva Las Vegas.

Charlie Daniels (song-writer, guitarist and fiddler) suffered from a mild stroke while snowmobiling in Colorado. Daniels, 73, co-wrote "It Hurts Me" which was featured in the "Elvis' 68 Comeback Special".

Elvis Presley fans commemorated what would have been the King's 75th birthday Jan. 8 with a new souvenir: the hits collection "Elvis 75" debuts on the Billboard 200 at #47. The set marks the highest-charting non-holiday album credited to Elvis since the TV soundtrack "Elvis By the Presleys" reached #15 in 2005.

The new album is one of three by Presley scaling this week's Billboard 200. The Starbucks-exclusive compilation "Boy From Tupelo" vaults 122 - 92 in its second week, and the 2002 No. 1 "ELV1S: 30 #1 Hits" re-enters at #158.

In Austria "The King - 75th Anniversary" 3 CD set shipped over 10,000 units and was certified GOLD by IFPI Austria. The original edition, "The King" (issued in 2007), is currently certified Platinum (20,000).

Elvis Presley Enterprises finally made the announcement a lot of fans were waiting for, the movie "Elvis On Tour" will be released on Blu-ray and DVD later this fall for the first time ever. From the announcement "Featuring electric performances from Elvis' 1972 tour, this Golden Globe winning documentary captures the raw energy and excitement of Elvis' best live performances".

Also announced was a 17-film "Ultimate Collector's Edition DVD" box set which will include "Elvis On Tour", "Viva Las Vegas", "Jailhouse Rock" and more.

Birthplace News

The Elvis Presley Birthplace foundation hopes to double the number of Elvis tourists to 100,000 a year with a new theater and other activities.A new theater and event venue would welcome tourists to the Elvis Presley Birthplace campus in Tupelo. The theater and other improvements are expected to cost $5 million. "We want to add some things that will continue to encourage people to come and see a part of the young Elvis," said Dick Guyton, executive director of the Elvis Presley Memorial Foundation.

The 15-acre site in East Tupelo now has the birthplace, museum, memorial chapel and the old church where the Presleys worshipped before they moved to Memphis. The master plan, which would cost about $5 million to carry out, will create the theater and several other activities. The idea is to offer enough to do not only to draw more Elvis fans, but to encourage more tourists to spend the night and eat in Tupelo restaurants, Guyton said. The master plan was conceived by Memphis-based Design 500 Inc.

Disques Helena Records label released the 2 CD "Edition 75th Anniversaire". While the Saga Jazz label re-issued the 2007 budget titles "The Birth Of The King" and "Love Me Tender" in Canada.